immendorf



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. H.,I1VI MEN'DORF. GRAiN DRIER.

No. 331,138. Patented Nov. 2.4 1885;.

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N. PETERS, PhoXo-Uthcgraphur. minimum 0. c,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-"Sheet G. H. IMMENDORF.

GRAIN'DRIBR.

No. 331,138. Patented Nov. 24, 1885.

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WITNESSES: iNVENTOR N. PETERS Phuln-Lilhographcr. Washington. 110.

UNITED STATES Mm @rrrcn.

GEORGE H. IMMENDORF, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY G.MORRIS, OF SAME PLACE.

GRAIN-DRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,138, dated November24:, 1885.

Application filed March 21, 1885. Serial No. 159,646. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. IMMEN- DORF, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Driers, of which improvements the followingis aspecification.

My present invention is an improvement upon that for which LettersPatent of the United States NO.-296,57 2 were granted and issued toHenry G. Morris, as my assignee, under date of April 8, 1884; and itsobject is to further facilitate and expedite the drying of grain oranalogous solid material which is in a comparatively finelydividedcondition in bulk.

To this end my improvements consist in nel, a series of radiatorslocated in said chute,

and having alternately opposite inclined faces, mechanism for effectingthe passage of a current of air through the casing and chute, a seriesof heatingpipes located within the casing on the supply side of thechute, a feedhopper and an agitator working therein, and an adjustableintermittently operating discharge-valve.

The improvements claimed are hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of adrier embodying my invention, a portion of one side ofthe casing beingbroken away to show the construction more clearly; Fig. 2, an end view,partly in section; and Fig. 3, a side view, partly in section, of thesame.

In the practice of my invention I provide a vertical or inclined chestor casing, A, which is preferably formed of a framing of channelbars oranalogous rolled-metal supportingmembers, to which are securedsheet-metal side and end plates. The casing A, which is substantiallyair-tight throughout, is provided with an air-inlet near its bottom, theposition of said inlet being indicated by a in Figs. 1 and 2, and withan air-discharge pipe or nozzle, a, at a point on its opposite side,said nozzleleading into a suitable exhaust-fan, D, by which a current ofair is drawn through the casing. The casing is closed at top by afeed-hopper, b, having a coarsely grated or perforated bottom, I)",which forms the upper boundary of a chute or channel, B, extendinglongitudinally through the casing A to or nearly to the bottom thereof,and having the major portion of its sides finely grated or perforated,or formed of wire-netting of such fineness as will admit of the freepassage of air without permitting the escape of the material to bedried.

A series of heater-pipes, 0, connected to a manifold, 0, near the bottomof the casing, is located therein on the side of the chute B nearest theair inlet, a circulation of steam or hot air being maintained throughthe heater-pipes by proper supply and discharge connections to themanifold c, for the purpose of heating theair which is drawn into thecasing prior to its passage through the chute B.

The grain or other material supplied to the hopper 12 passes through theinterstices in the bottom b thereof into the chute B, and in itsdownward traverse through the same falls successively upon and passesover the inner sides or faces of a series of horizontal radiators ordrying boxes, B, arranged one above the other throughout the chute B.The radiators B, which are light hollow castings provided with ribs orprojections on their faces, to increase the heating-surface thereof, aresecured at their ends to the end standards of the casing A, on oppositesides alternately of the chute B, their inner sides being inclined, asshown, in alternately-opposite directions, and their outer sides formingpart of the walls of the chute B intermediate between the grated orperforated portions thereof. The radiators B are connected at oppositeends alternately by couplings or return-bend pipes b inclosed byvertical coverplates 1) on the ends of the casing A, and steam or hotair is supplied to the series through a connection, b", leading into theuppermost radiator, and discharged through a nozzle, b upon the lowestof the series.

The material supplied to the feed-hopper is prevented from banking oraccumulating irregularly therein by a reciprocating agitator composed ofa series of plates, F, secured to a rod. or bar, f, which is fitted toslide freely in bearings in the ends of the feed-hopper, and is coupledto an arm, 9, on a horizontal rock-shaft, G, mounted in bearings on theeasing A. The rock-shaft G is vibrated by a connecting-rod, h, coupledat one end to an arm, 9, on the rock shaft, and at the other to a crank,h, on a shaft, H, journaled on the easing A, and carrying adriving-pulley, h, to which power is applied from any suitable primemover.

The discharge of the dried material from the bottom of the chute B isregulated as required by a vibrating discharge-valve, I, extendingacross the chute from the face of the lowest radiator to the oppositeside, and provided with end journals which are mounted in hearings inthe casing-standards. Movement about the axial line of its journals isimparted to the discharge-valve I by an arm, 2', which carries upon itsouter end a counter-balance, i, and is coupled by a rod, '1 to acrank-pin upon a gear, 1?, secured to a short shaft which is journaledon the casing, and meshing with a pinion, i on the shaft H. The arm tand connecting-rod 2' are coupled by means of a pin, 1', on the arm,

which fits in a longitudinal slot, 45 in the connectingrod, and thedegree of traverse of the valve I may be increased or diminished, or itsvibration be wholly stopped, as desired, by suitable adjustments of aset-screw, t, engaging a thread in the lower end of the connecting-rod tand acting to vary the position of the pin 2' in the slot i In theoperation of the drier the material acted upon is subjected in itstraverse through the chute B to the action of the heated surfaces of theradiators B, and the duration of its exposure thereto is prolonged byits alternate deflection toward opposite sides of the chute by theinclined faces of the radiators. The effect of the radiators issupplemented by the current of air which, after being heated by thepipes 0, passes through the perforated portions of the sides of thechute, and, to gether with the moisture extracted from the material, iswithdrawn by the fan D. The dried material delivered from thedischargevalve I falls into a car or other suitable receptacle placedbelow the same, or may be carried off continuously as delivered by aconveyer of any well-known type.

I am aware that driers have heretofore been constructed withgrain-chutes provided with oppositely inclined shelves secured to thewalls, which shelves have carried radiatorcoils for drying the grain inits downward passage,and having means for passing a current of airthrough the grain; and I do not therefore claim such a construction,broadly.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Thecombination, substantially as set forth, of a casing having air inletand discharge passages on its opposite sides, a chute or channel havinggratings or perforations in its sides and extending through said casingand separating the grain-chute from the airinlet passage on one side andthe air-outlet passage on the other, a fan or blower for effecting thepassage of a current of air through the casing and chute, and a seriesof radiators located transversely one above another in the chute.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a casing having airinlet and discharge passages on its opposite sides, a chute or channelhaving gratings or perforations in its sides and extending through saidcasing and separating the grain-chute from the airinlet passage on oneside and the air-outlet passage on the other, a fan or blower foreffecting the passage of a current of air through the casing and chute,a series of heater-pipes locatedin the casing between the supply-openingand the chute, and a series of radiators located transversely one aboveanother in the chute. o,

3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a casing having airinlet and discharge passages in its opposite sides, a chute or channelhaving gratings orperforations in its sides and extending through saidcasing, a fan or blower for effecting the passage of a current of airthrough the casing and chute, and a series of radiators locatedtransversely one above another in the chute,with their inner facesinclined alternately inoppositc directions and their outer faces formingportions of the side walls of the chute.

4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of acasing, a grated orperforated chute or channel extending through said casing, .a fan orblower for effecting the passage of a current of air through the casingand chute,a series of radiators or drying-boxes located transversely oneabove another in the chute and having their faces inclined inalternatelyopposite directions, a feed hopper located above the chuteand separated therefrom by a grated or perforated bottom, and anagitator adapted to reciprocate in the feed-hopper.

5. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a casing, a grated orperforated chute or channel extending through said casing, a fan orblower for effecting the passage of a current of air through the casingand chute,a series of radiators or drying-boxes located transversely oneabove the other in the chute and having their faces inclined inalternatelyopposite directions, a discharge-valve journaled to vibratein bearings below an outlet in the bottom of the chute, and anadjustable mechanism adapted to vary the traverse of the discharge-valveand admit of the discontinuance of movement of the same.

6. The combination, in a drier, of a grainchute and a series ofoppositely inclined shelves, B, connected together and forming part ofthe walls of the chute, substantially as described.

GEORGE H. 1M MENDORF.

Witnesses:

JOHN PARKER, Gno. W. N 00K.

